"Labs A-Leaping" at Annual Pooch Party

 

In a fitting end to the dog days of summer, dozens of pups were leaping, splashing, and frolicking at Lakeview Pool on Saturday, August 26. That’s when Nampa Parks & Rec hosted an end-of-season, dogs-only pool party to raise funds for area dog parks. And what a party it was!

Hundreds of pooches and their people attended the four-hour festival, complete with a stroll, entertainment, contests, and dozens of pet-themed vendors. This popular community event has been making a splash since it began in 2007 and keeps growing every year.

It was pure JOY to watch dogs swimming, fetching, barking, or simply standing in cool water on a hot summer day. And yes, the pool was populated with plenty of Labradors and other retrievers, but I also saw bulldogs, cattle dogs, huskies, border collies, shepherds, and of course, oodles of poodles and doodle dogs with happy grins.

These are the vicarious experiences that remind me to live in the moment like dogs do. No time like the present to seize a sunny day! Don’t just watch from the sidelines - jump in with enthusiasm, make new friends, then relax in the shade as the afternoon floats by.

Oh and. Happy National Dog Day!